The mess hall of the training center was crowded, as expected. The tables were full of children, all abuzz with excitement. The Reaping for the 62nd Hunger Games was finally upon them.

Being that District Two was a Career district, the children attended a training academy, and every year right before the Reaping there was an evaluation that determined which students would be able to volunteer. The ones chosen were non-negotiable and very hard won. The evaluation was similar to the one the tributes would face in the Capitol, although not completely the same. This had been the way the tributes were decided for years, and it ensured that the only the strongest would be vying for the title of Victor for District Two.

Tegan wandered absentmindedly through the throngs of students, brown eyes looking for only one person. She found him sitting by himself instead of surrounded by his normal crowd, for which she was thankful. "Hey, you." She grinned, sliding into the seat across from him. "So what's the news? Anything yet?"

"I got a ten," he said, obviously trying to downplay his excitement. "This could be my year, Tea."

"Yeah? Well I heard that Maximus got a ten too. And a bunch of other people," she pointed out, brows arched.

"Still. I did really well in my evaluations. What'd you get, anyway?"

She grinned wider, dimples cut into her cheeks. "Funny you should ask, Elias…I got a ten." She laughed when his eyes widened and reached over to punch his shoulder. "What? Didn't you have faith in me?"

Elias laughed with her and he reached over to ruffle her dark hair. "Sure I did…you're just so tiny, that's all."

"I'm seventeen, just like you," she narrowed her eyes at him. "Everyone is tiny compared to you, you big oaf."

"Calm down." He winked, getting up from the table when the other students started to leave the hall. "Come on, they're going to make the decision." He walked beside her and the other kids seemed to part out of their way. "God, if I don't get chosen, I've only got one year left," he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets so he wouldn't fidget with them. "Are you nervous?"

"Shh," Tegan hissed, the room falling quiet when the director of the academy stood.

"Good afternoon, it's good to see all of you. My name is Piotr Damae. You may already know that I am the director of this fine academy. I'm pleased to say that I viewed all of your individual evaluations and it was difficult to narrow down who would be volunteering this year," he began, smiling at the students. "As a proud career district, I know that each one of you would give your all in the arena and make us proud, but there can only be one young man and one young lady. Are we ready to find out the ones who will be representing District Two?"

A thundering of applause and whoops answered the distinguished-looking older man.

"Very well, then," Piotr laughed and picked up an envelope that rested on his podium.

Tegan grinned up at Elias, clapping with the rest of her classmates. She was nearly bursting with excitement. If he went, she would be just as excited for him, but if she were chosen…

"The female tribute is Tegan Faye!"

Tegan's mouth dropped open and the sound of cheers and applause for her seemed muffled. She could barely feel the claps of congratulations on her shoulders. There hadn't been enough time to think about what would happen if she had actually been chosen! It felt like she was floating as she passed through the crowd to the front, a dazzling grin on her face.

"Congratulations, Ms. Faye," the director smiled down on her. "Are you going to be our champion this year?"

"I am," she nodded.

"We shall see, won't we? How about our man?" Piotr accepted the envelope and he wasted no time opening it. "The male tribute is Remus Cyrell!"

Tegan turned to find the voice of her new partner, immediately impressed when he emerged from the crowd. He wasn't nearly as big as Elias, but he certainly looked menacing enough. He grinned at her and reached out to shake her hand before looking up at Piotr.

"What about you, Mr. Cyrell? Are you going to be our champion?"

He smiled widely, his white teeth flashing. "Definitely."

The director just smiled and he led the students in another round of applause for the two chosen ones.

The small brunette turned around and just reveled in the craziness of the whole situation. She searched for Elias but when she found where he had been earlier, he was gone without so much as a glimpse of his fiery hair.

"Where did you go today?" Tegan murmured as she strolled alongside Elias. It was nearly sundown, and she had finally managed to slip away from her family to find her friend. "You disappeared after the announcement."

"I was angry," he said with a shrug, his copper hair looking like fire in the lingering sunlight. "Jealous of Remus, jealous of you…" He trailed off and gave her a shy smile. It was so unlike him to be shy. "I'm sorry for that. You can punch me if you want; I deserve it for not even saying congratulations."

She shook her head and shrugged, looking at her feet when they walked. "There's still next year. And then…" She frowned, having intended to try and cheer him up.

"Then I can still be a Peacekeeper. I can pick whatever district I want to go to and see what it's like." He absentmindedly kicked at a pebble, not feeling her brown eyes watching him.

"Why would you want to leave? It's not any nicer in any of the districts; you've seen the films in school. Plus, what makes you think I'd let you leave?" Tegan asked with a cock of her brow.

"You? Nah, you wouldn't miss me," he shook his head. "You'll be a victor. Living large, you won't have time for me between all the parties and mentoring. Ow!" He hissed when she slapped him upside his head. "What was that for?"

"For being stupid!" she exclaimed, a fire in her eyes. "Don't say things like that! Of course I'd miss you! You're my best friend, you idiot!" A blush rose in her cheeks but she kept glaring at him until he looked at his feet in embarrassment. "If you're trying to make me feel bad because I got picked and you didn't, well…it's working."

Elias shook his head fervently and he reached out to set a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm a big dumb oaf, remember? I'm happy for you, really. I'm sorry."

She sighed and nodded, looking up at him. "You just have to train harder." She stared at him and sighed again. "What if I'm not strong enough? What if I don't come back?"

"You're the strongest person I know. I'm not just saying that, I mean it. I know I wouldn't stand a chance against you if it were the both of us in the arena."

Tegan felt a sense of relief course through her. She hadn't thought about the possibility of her and Elias being chosen, and she was so thankful that it hadn't turned out that way. If it had come down to it, she wouldn't be able to kill him. She wouldn't be able to go on after him dying at someone else's hand either. "Would you be able to kill me if it had been the two of us?"

"Don't ask me things like that," he murmured, shaking his head. "You wouldn't like the answer."

Her eyes widened and she staggered away from him a bit, completely taken aback. "Wh-what?"

A big grin lit up his face and he shook his head. "I didn't mean it like that. Of course I wouldn't be able to do it. I'd let someone off me, or better yet let you do it. You'd make it quick for me."

Tegan rolled her eyes, but the hair on her arms wouldn't lay flat. "Don't count on it." They walked in silence for a few moments as they neared Tegan's home. The lights inside were on and they cast a warm, welcoming glow on the dark outside world. "Are you going to come to the train station tomorrow?"

"Do you want me to?" he asked her, pausing at the end of the path up to her front door. His own house lay in the next village close by, but he'd have to walk in the dark to make it there.

She nodded, this whole situation feeling odd. But then again, everything was going to change. Tomorrow, she was leaving everyone behind with a very big possibility of never returning to them again. It felt like she should do something or say something profound, but looking at her goof of a friend left her mind blank of anything.

"Then I'll be there," Elias smiled and he nodded. "Congratulations, Tea. I'm proud of you, really."

She smiled back and then felt her heart skip a beat when he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She gave him a look when he pulled away, both their faces red.

"Was that weird?" he asked, making a face as well. "Sorry, I felt like I should have done it. Forget it happened."

Tegan snorted and she nodded, turning away. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Hey, Tea?"

She turned and looked at him expectantly, the tender look on his face making her want to melt. "Yes?"

He smiled, tucking his hands into his pockets. "You're my best friend, too." With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving her to go into her home and await her fate in the coming morning.

Hello friends, Kelsey here! I have had this story idea floating around in my head for a while and I decided to finally get around to starting it! It's the first Hunger Games story I've started to write with all original characters. I'll still be working on Rini's story too, I haven't forgotten about her! I do hope that you enjoyed this start and thank you so much for taking the time to read it! If you would be so kind as to leave a review to tell me what you thought, I'd greatly appreciate it :)

-Kelsey xx